Designer corsets are made to be seen.

From an item of discreet designed to mould women to the ideal shape of the time the boned corset and steel corset have evolved into the designer corset designed to be worn and shown off as a fashion item.

The boned corset has been worn with a severe, tailored suit to create a stunning evening look. It is regularly a feature of the stage costumes of female rock artists and girl bands, first and perhaps most famously by Madonna with a special designer boned corset created by Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The shape created by the corset represents an ideal of the female figure that emphasises a curvy shape.

The shape is achieved by inserting strips of steel or bone into the fabric either holding in the section of the body from under the bust to just above the hips or along the full length of the corset.

Another recent innovation is the moulded pvc corset, used to achieve a more “space age” look reminiscent of the female avatars featured in superhero comics and in various computer games.

Nowadays the corset is made to be seen and it is possible to get a variety of styles of boned corset in designer corset ranges. The styles are varied, incorporating halter necks, shoulder straps or strapless, ending at the waist as in the bustier or at the hips. They come with or without suspenders, used to attach stockings.

The boned corset is a very feminine garment and is generally seen these days as a sign of a confident woman who is not afraid to be flamboyant while still feminine. It can be worn by any woman.

Regular wearing of a boned corset can over time be a shape changer to help a woman achieve her ideal figure, although this is better achieved when combined with a fitness regime and healthy diet.

Because wearing a corset constricts the waist, a boned corset can also help with weight loss as it is impossible to eat so much while wearing one.

The steel boned corset can also help with back problems by supporting the spine and improving the posture to relieve the aches and pains many people suffer from.

The designer corset’s image has changed greatly throughout the late 20th and current centuries, acquiring an image that suggests flamboyance, a degree of daring, subtle eroticism, as well as cutting edge fashion.